Temperature sensing device



NOV. 18, 1941. P, F, ADAMS TEMPERATURE sENsING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1938 .2 sheets-sheet 1 wis gig. 5.

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Nov. 18, 1941. P. F. ADAMS I 'TEMPERATURE SENSING DEVICE Filed March l, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Non m Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STAT y n '2,262,909 f TEMPERATURE SENSING DEVICE Perry F. Adams, Cleveland, Ohiov f- 1938, Serial Nol.'193,343

Y Application March 1,

2. Claims.

This invention relates to temperature sensing or 'detecting and more particularly to a new and useful thermal elementof distinctly more deli'- cate and sensitive nature, and one applicable to a very Wide range of visible indicators for quickly and accurately determining temperature of matter of any nature.'

Heretofore methods of obtaining temperature have been more or less inaccurate and time con suming, and the device usedotherwise relatively crude, unreliable and expensive. For example, it is frequently desirable'toknow the temperature of the water used in taking a shower or tub bathv not only as a matter of convenience or as a time saver but as a health protective or restorative measure. In determining temperature of bath water for pediatric use in a hospital, it `has been customary to flll the tub or basin with Water and immerse a mercury bulb thermometer encased in a block of wood and to allow the same to remain immersed for an indefinite period ofv time sufficient to allow for a supposedly true registration ofthe temperature, and then to add cold or hot water as desired for tempering with the process being repeated until the desired tem-v perature is obtained. In a second case a-thermostatically controlled valve' may have been in-v the setting at any desired h temperature and allows no water'to flow until' stalled which permits the desired temperature is reached. This'latter expensive but very slow which is likewise true of the other ordinary methods in use at the present time. l

In the various elds of useytemperature determining is not satisfactory forreasons similar uses, as for example withl to those heretofore enumerated. This invention Y.

is intended to be used in any industryoriield for instantaneous temperature determination where a quick and accurate indication of temperature or change in temperature is desired.

It is vitally important that an constantly and accurately the temperature of the air strata through whichhe is iiying Aas a warning of ice forming possibilities, likewise the temperature of the fuel in the carburetonthe motor and oil temperatures.

It is similarly important' to know the temper'aexhaust gases or in where quick or instantaneousV tures of motors, bearings,

any other fields temperature indication is desired. r

It is an object of this invention to provide a temperature sensing device which is simple and aviator' know inexpensive, having accurate and substantially' instantaneous action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thermal element capable of being easily :in- A' stalled and'one that may be used to replace ther-1 mal yelements 'already in use to transformthose prior slow operating, inaccurate devices.' into practical,4 instantaneously thermally responsive v units.

Yet another object is to ment responsive to temperature havingy a body of thermal fluid within relatively thin temperature conducting walls which to the vvolume of the fluid, walls. ,Y c l The foregoing and other objects and advantages of my inventionlwill become apparent from in contact with the the following descriptiontaken in conjunction.

with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. l is a perspective view in elevation'of a temperature indicating unit `or assembly em-A bodying features of [the "present invention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical vsection of the vunit shown in Fig. 1;

.Fig 3 isa sectional view ment Aembodying featuresfof the invention;

' Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4,-4, Fig. 3;

Fig.' 5 is a perspective View of a shower bath,- illustrating one application of the `improved temperature indicating un1t or thermometer;

Fig.y 6 is a front elevationparallel in section showing an indicating device with a thermal ele-v ment incorporating'features of "the present invention, h v

Fig;l lis an elevation showing `the thermal element attached to a specially designed fitting;-

Fig. 8 is a frontv elevation partly in section of an indicating device incorporating a thermal element of the'type herein contemplated;

Fig. 9 shows a variation in and,

mal element wherein arcuate in transverse section.

Fig. 11 shows a detail variationof the support `constructionof Fig. 2. y

providev a thermal" ele-r confine the fluid into 'a thin film having a very'large surface with respectA of fthev thermal elethe whole providing an indiciasystem;`

` form ofthe thermal :Ik element, being vsubstantially flat and elongated;

Fig.y 10-shows aiurther variation in the ther-fl the element is substantially center Yof this element is hol'- low as indicated at 34 to allow fluid to flow all around thesurfaces of the element. The `upper end of the element is securedto a metal member 35 by means of brazing, silver soldering Vor any other appropriate method of securement which will maintain the thermal element 32 and the member 35 in iixed engagement. The lower end of plug 35 is arcuate as at 35' so as to direct fluid in a iowl path through the interiorl of the element. The member 35 is internally threaded at 36 for threaded engagement with the nipple 30, and is extericrly threaded at 31 for securement to a typical pipe connection 38 having 4a skirt 39 serving to protect the connection with the thermal element and being exteriorl'y threaded for connection with a supporting structure. The interior 33 of the thermal element is in communication with the Bourdon tube by means of the inner communicating passages 40 and 4| which latter is connected with the thermal element as in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 a detailed construction of the thermal element is shown incorporating novel features of the invention. The thermal element 42 in this instance includes concentric cylindrical heat conducting walls 43 and 44 appropriately closed at their opposite ends to define an intervening cylindrical space 45, the whole being mounted upon a shouldered annulus 46 having a depending threaded extension 41. This latter extension contains a bore hole 48 continuing upwardly through the annulus and being placed in communication with the interior of the thermal element at the point 49. For the purpose of filling the thermal element with any appropriate thermal fluid a small port is provided which is in communication with the borehole 48 and which is closed by the screw plate 50. As soon as the appropriate amount of thermal iluid is placed within the system plug 50 is screwed home sealing the system so that it is ready for use.

A plug is provided for mounting the thermal element in thermal relation with respect to a medium, the temperature of which is to be measured. This latter member contains a passage 52 which is closed at its lower end by a screw plug 53 and which is placed in communication with the thermal element by means of a hollow tubular connection 54 of thermal insulation which is threadedly engaged upon extension 41 at the top and threadedly secured to the plug at 55.

Fig. 8 illustrates a variation in application of features of the invention to thermometer elements wherein the element includes a body of liquid as the thermal agent. This may be for example applied to clinical thermometers with some slight detail variations. A plug type fitting 18 having a counter bore 19 is arranged with a tapering boss 80 threaded exteriorly. At the lower end of the boss is a bracket portion 8l at the lower end of which is secured a thermal element 82 constructed substantially in the same manner as those heretofore described. The port 21 of this element is secured to the plug fitting so that it is in communication with the passage 83 which latter extends into the base of the counterbore 19. A gauge tube I4 is secured in the counterbore with its passage 84 in communication with the passage 83. Adjacent the gauge glass is provided appropriate indicia marks 85 and the device is indicated with the body of liquid 88 filling the same.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate variations in the thermal element per se, Fig. 9 showing the element wall material.. The

inT the form of a flat elongated tube 81 having Va connection 88` at the lower left hand corner. The walls ofv this element are spaced apart so as to provide an interior passage 89 which is of such dimension as to provide a very thin film of thermal agent which-willreact instantly to temperature conditions; Fig. l0 shows a somewhat similar element 81 which is arcuate in transverse cross section as shown at 89' having a connection 88' in the middle of one end wall. This element also provides a very thin film of thermal agent which responds instantly to temperature conditions.

It is possible to construct the thermal element so as to expedite its correct mounting upon the ring 22 as in Fig. 2 by making the internal cylinder 23 of greater length than the outer cylinder 24. This variation is shown in Fig. 1l wherein the inner cylinder 44 extends to the bottom of the ring 46 and its lower edge is flush with the ring and sealed thereto. In this manner the cylinder is positively aligned so that it will always be spaced from the walls of any passage in which it is located the proper distance. Another feature to insure accuracy in operation is to provide the ring 46 with an upstanding annular flange 46 which tapers in height so that any liquid getting into the thermal element due to a contraction of the thermal fluid can always quickly drain into the bore 48 as a result of the contour of the tapered flange. This tapering arrangement is also shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The outer cylinder is indicated at 43 seated outside of the iiange and forming a space 45 between the two cylinders.

Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that variations within the true spirit and scope of the same are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a thermometer assembly for use in gauging temperatures of circulating or flowing liquids, comprising a gauge glass or tube, a frame supporting said glass and having `a conduit therein in communication with said tube, a thermal unit consisting of telescoping tube sections having walls of thin material of high'heat conducting properties with means at opposite ends of the sections maintaining them in sealed relation and spaced just suliciently to provide a thin space therebetween for a thermal agent, a threaded plug to which said unit is connected, said plug being adapted for insertion in a pipe line with the unit projecting longitudinally of the line and whereby any liquid in the line is caused to flow both on the inside and outside of the tube sections, said plug being formed with a bore communication at one end with the thin space between said sections and at its opposite end with said conduit in said' frame, the connection between said plug and said tube sections being formed of an elongated member having a relatively small cross section whereby heat transfer between said plug and said tube sections is reduced to a minimum.

2. Apparatus for measuring temperature of fluid flowing in a conduit comprising a pressure indicator, `a temperature responsive bulb made up of telescoped tube sections having thin walls formed of material of high heat conductive properties and provided with means at their opposite ends maintaining the sections spaced and sealed, the space between the telescoped walls of the sections containing a thermal agent, a threaded plugf-to which said sections. are .connectedfbyY means of van elongated member ofV small cross section whereby said plug may fbescrewed in a suit-able fitting `1n said conduit with .the bulb `extending nto the conduit .to -permit uidvto `flow both'on the inside ,and *outsideo1' -the telescoped' sections, said plug and Aelongated member 'being formed with a bore communicating at one .end .with -.t=he lthin space between -said sections rand means yconnecting the plug :with thepressure indicator with the opposite lend of the bore yin com- 5 munication Wit-h the pressure indicator.

'PERRY F; ADAMS. 

